Moving to Namibia from Rwanda

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What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Rwanda to Namibia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Rwanda to Namibia. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Rwanda to Namibia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
374 ↑ 7% vs 2015

people born in Rwanda live in Namibia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Namibia?

Top countries of origin for Namibia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Rwanda to Namibia.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
3.6
NA
12.4
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

RW
11.6
NA
22.0

Rwanda performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

RW
$177
NA
$1,068
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

RW
1.2
NA
5.4

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

RW
62.0
NA
43.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

RW
0.2t
NA
1.2t

Rwanda generally does better on environment, though Namibia leads in air pollution deaths.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

RW
0.3
NA
3.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

RW
20.2%
NA
0.9%

Namibia performs significantly better than Rwanda across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

RW
14.9%
NA
19.4%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

RW
$3,000
NA
$11,500

Rwanda generally does better on employment & economy, though Namibia leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

RW
65.8 yrs
NA
66.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

RW
26.4
NA
29.4

Namibia generally does better on family life, though Rwanda leads in infant mortality.

Data: Rwanda Revenue Authority, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kigali Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
80° / 60°F

Avg. annual high / low

Windhoek Rain: 14.5 in/yr (368 mm)
80° / 55°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kigali Windhoek
Jan–Mar 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 84°/63°F (29°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 79°/61°F (26°/16°C) 74°/50°F (23°/10°C)
Jul–Sep 82°/60°F (28°/16°C) 76°/49°F (24°/9°C)
Oct–Dec 80°/60°F (27°/16°C) 87°/61°F (30°/16°C)
View all months
Month Kigali Windhoek
Jan 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.6°C) 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.7°C)
Feb 81°/60°F (27.4°/15.8°C) 84°/63°F (28.7°/17.0°C)
Mar 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.7°C) 81°/61°F (27.4°/15.9°C)
Apr 79°/61°F (26.2°/16.1°C) 78°/55°F (25.8°/12.9°C)
May 79°/61°F (25.9°/16.2°C) 74°/50°F (23.4°/9.8°C)
Jun 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.3°C) 69°/44°F (20.7°/6.9°C)
Jul 81°/59°F (27.1°/15.0°C) 70°/44°F (21.2°/6.9°C)
Aug 82°/61°F (28.0°/16.0°C) 75°/48°F (23.8°/8.9°C)
Sep 83°/61°F (28.2°/16.0°C) 82°/54°F (27.5°/12.4°C)
Oct 81°/61°F (27.2°/15.9°C) 85°/58°F (29.3°/14.7°C)
Nov 79°/60°F (26.1°/15.5°C) 86°/61°F (30.2°/16.2°C)
Dec 80°/60°F (26.4°/15.6°C) 89°/63°F (31.4°/17.2°C)

Data: Rwanda Meteorology Agency Rwanda Meteorology Agency, Namibia Meteorological Service Namibia Meteorological Service

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Rwanda and Namibia. To live, work, or study long-term in Namibia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Namibia's immigration authority.

Rwanda passport

Rwanda passport holder visiting Namibia

Visa on Arrival
Rwanda passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Namibia.
Namibia passport

Namibia passport holder visiting Rwanda

Visa Free
Namibia passport holders can enter Rwanda without a visa.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work remotely from Namibia?

Internet is rarely the blocker — Namibia has 3.9 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

Is Namibia safe for expats?

Rwanda performs better than Namibia across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Namibia is 12.4 per 100,000 people, compared to 3.6 in Rwanda.

How is healthcare in Namibia compared to Rwanda?

Rwanda generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Namibia leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 5.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Namibia, compared to 1.2 in Rwanda. Namibia scores 63 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Rwanda: 49).

What's the weather like in Namibia compared to Rwanda?

The average high temperature in Windhoek is 80°F, compared to 80°F in Kigali. Windhoek receives around 14.5 in of rainfall per year, while Kigali gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Namibia?

The official languages in Namibia are Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga and Tswana. In Rwanda, the official languages are English, French and Kinyarwanda.

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At a Glance

RW NA
Population 13,173,730 2,727,409
Currency Rwandan Franc (RWF) Namibian Dollar (NAD)
Languages English, French, Kinyarwanda Afrikaans, English, German, Herero, Khoekhoe, Kwangali, Lozi, Ndonga, Tswana
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +250 +264
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 10111